Disclaimer: Gundam Wing does not belong to me. (First time writing a Gundam Wing fic, so live with me here, people!)
Also, this is a Mulan Fusion, not a crossover. All pairings are decided, all you have to do is sit back and relax, and read! XD Let's hope I don't make the characters OOC! And also, the story will not follow as close as the Mulan plot, but something along the lines of it! Well, read on! There'll be HET, and YAOIi! You have been warned.
Chapter 1
"...Remember to be diligent, courteous and-"
"Make our family proud, I know already, geez! Give it up a break will ya?"
Father Maxwell sighed heavily and shook his head.
"That is not a way a lady should act," he pointed out to the long haired woman dressed in a pair of baggy black pants and a long-sleeved black shirt. "Nor is it the way a lady should dress," he finished dryly.
The said lady scrunched her nose and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Nuh uh! No way! I ain't going to put any of that stuff you call make-up on me. And what's wrong with the way I'm dressed? I like it!" She ended it with a mischievous grin, followed by a twirl.
"Duo," he started, but stopped and sighed. "Nevermind. I guess it's a miracle you're even going in the first place." He gave her a second glance. "Could you at least put on a dress?"
Duo snorted, grabbing an apple from the table and walked towards the door. "Are you kidding me, man? They're so breezy, ya know? Not to mention itchy and uncomfortable. Why don't you wear a dress. It might fit you more than me."
"Duo-"
"Yeah, yeah. Mind my language, etcetera, etcetera," she rolled her eyes at him. "Well, gotta go! I'm going to be late!" She took a large bite out of the apple. "Here, you can have my apple!" she exclaimed and threw it in his direction, then stormed off like a hurricane.
He pursed his lips together as he held the apple in his hands before letting out a chuckle. "Never change, Duo." He looked out the window and watched as she stumbled hier way through the heavily crowded streets.
"Oh man, oh man! I am so late! They're gonna kill me!" Duo frantically pushed aside the young couple in front of her. "Coming through, people! Move aside!"
"Duo, wait!" Duo stopped halfway through her step and turned around.
"Sister Helen!" She broke into a wide grin, waiting for the older woman to approach her. "What's up?"
The woman sighed at the other's greeting. "Manners, young lady. And look at you! Look at the way you're dressed. It's inappropriate! Not only that, bu-"
Duo hastily grabbed her hands and smiled. "What did ya come all the way here for?"
Sister Helen's eyes lit up and she pulled out a cage from behind her. "Look at this! It's a lucky a cricket I bought for you!"
Duo stared disbelievingly at the cage. "A cricket. You bought me a cricket."
"Not just any cricket. A lucky cricket." And the cage was shoved into her hands and before Duo knew it, she was being pushed towards the doorway. "I'll be on my way, and good luck Duo. Please, do not try to cause them any trouble." And she was gone.
Duo waited until she was out of sight before looking at the cage face to face. "A lucky cricket, eh? Nope, don't need it." She threw it over her shoulders. "Not so lucky anymore, eh? Well, time to get going," she grumbled to herself as she pushed open her door. Almost immediately, she was grabbed from the sides and pulled into another room. "Hey, watch what you're grabbing!""Get away from me!""For the last time, no make-up!" "That's it! I am leaving!" With a loud huff, she ran out of the house before she could move on to the next stage.
"Damn it, I guess I couldn't do it after all. No matchmaker's going to make me go through this for some man!" She rubbed the lipstick that had somehow managed its way onto her cheek. "Ugh, why did I even agree to go in the first place? Nothing but a waste of time," she mumbled, walking back home on her sore feet, entering through the back gate.
"Father Maxwell, Sister Helen, I'm home!" She hollered, but hearing nothing she headed out to the front streets where she found people gathering around a man sitting on a horse, reading his scroll; his flag fluttering in the back.
"Citizens, I bring a proclamation from the Empirical City. The Huns have invaded China. By order of the Emperor, one man must serve from every family." He bellowed.
Duo grimaced. She didn't like the sounds of that. Wait, one man from every family? Didn't that mean...?
"The Lee's." He started, with no order in particular, handing out each scroll individually."The Shou's."
Duo scanned the crowd for her family, grinning widely when she found them, and marched over to them, her hand waving enthusiastically as she ignored as the men on their horses."Hey-"
"The Maxwell's."
The words got caught in her throat as she froze in place. But we don't have any other males in our family except for-
"Father!" She cried out, watching as he reached out to grab the scroll and take home. "No!" She dashed out to the streets, ignoring Sister Helen who called after her. She grabbed onto Father's robes and clutched them tightly in her hands. "Wait, please! He's not- he's too old for this!" She said frantically.
"Duo, it's alright," Father Maxwell said, trying to soothe her worries. "I'll be fine."
"No! You're not fine! You're not young anymore; you can't go out to war! I won't let you!" She knew she was overreacting, but this was different.
"Duo!" Came the sharp voice, causing her to flinch. "That's enough. Let's go back now." He grabbed her arm and pulled her into the house, followed by Sister Helen. The men continued on calling out the names as though nothing had happened. He released her arm soon enough and started towards his wardrobe.
"I understand you do not wish that I attend the war, but it is not my choice."
"What? But that's not fair!" Duo shouted at the top of her lungs. "You can't go to war, you just can't!"
He sighed and placed his hand on her head. "Sometimes, life isn't fair," he says softly, "Everything will turn out fine, trust me." He turned to opened the wardrobe, stroking the side of the armour and gave a sad sigh.
"Shall we retire for the night?"
Duo gave a hesitant nod, and left for her room. She closed her chambers.
That night, she sat on her bed, pondering, and allowed a smile to creep onto her face. "Well, I ain't going to let him go with the condition he's in! He won't even make it past the marching line!" Her eyes lit up as she started planning. "Which is why he'll need someone who's young, strong, and not to mention: male. I might not be a man, but I soon will be." With that decision in mind, she waited until midnight to strike.
She crossed the room and stole Father's armour, his sword and his scroll and snuck her way into the ranch. "Psst. Deathscythe, c'mere boy!" She gave a low whistle and watched as he galloped his way towards her. "Good boy. Now about my hair." She gave her a hair long, good stare. Watching as it fell down to the back of her knees. "Nuh uh, I ain't cutting my hair, that's for sure." She started braiding her hair and tossed it over her shoulders. "Good enough. Anybody who's got anything to say will have to say it to my face." With a good reassuring nod to herself, she climbed the horse and left the house.
"I'll catch ya later, Father Maxwell, Sister Helen."
Just as she was about to leave, something made its way on her nose. She crossed her eyes and stared at the strange creature, as though seeing it for the first time. Her mouth fell open.
"Aren't you the lucky cricket?" A low sound reached her ears and she smiled ear-to-ear. "Well, you must be lucky after all, sticking with me like that even though I threw you out like yesterday's garbage!" Another low pitch. "Alright, you can come along, and just for the heck of it, I'll name you Howard! Howie for short, 'kay?" Another sound of confirmation. "You better hold on, Howie, this is going to be one long ride."
With one last glance at her home, she turned and raced out of the village, never hearing the echoing sound of a pained cry by Father Maxwell.
What a chapter! XD Well, I hope you enjoyed it. R&R if you will please, after all, what authors do not? Well, 'til next time!